Z-0530

AN ACT Relating to contracts for certificated school personnel; and amending RCW 28A.405.210, 28A.400.300, 28A.405.240, 28A.400.010, 28A.405.220, 28A.405.230, 28A.405.100, 28A.405.310, 28A.405.320, 28A.405.350, 28A.405.380, and 28A.645.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.405.210 and 1990 c 33 s 390 are each amended to read as follows:

No teacher, principal, supervisor, superintendent, or other certificated employee, holding a position as such with a school district, hereinafter referred to as "employee", shall be employed except by written order of a majority of the directors of the district at a regular or special meeting thereof, nor unless ((~~he or she~~)) the employee is the holder of an effective teacher's certificate or other certificate required by law or the state board of education for the position for which the employee is employed.

The board shall make with each employee employed by it a written contract, which shall be in conformity with the laws of this state, and except as otherwise provided by law, limited to a term ((~~of not more than one year~~)) prescribed in RCW 28A.400.300. However, for those employees with three-year maximum contract terms, the board may annually extend the term of each employee's contract for the maximum term permitted by law. Every such contract shall be made in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the school district superintendent or secretary and one copy to be delivered to the employee. No contract shall be offered by any board for the employment of any employee who has previously signed an employment contract for that same term in another school district of the state of Washington unless such employee shall have been released from his or her obligations under such previous contract by the board of directors of the school district to which he or she was obligated. Any contract signed in violation of this provision shall be void.

In the event it is determined that ((~~there is probable cause or causes that~~)) the employment contract of an employee should not be renewed by the district for the next ensuing term such employee shall be notified in writing ((~~on or before~~)) by May 15th preceding the commencement of such term of that determination, which notification shall specify the ((~~cause or causes~~)) reason or reasons for nonrenewal of contract. Such determination of ((~~probable cause~~)) nonrenewal of contract for certificated employees, other than the superintendent, shall be made by the superintendent. Such notice shall be served upon the employee personally, or by certified or registered mail, or by leaving a copy of the notice at the house of his or her usual abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then resident therein. Every such employee so notified, at his or her request made in writing and filed with the ((~~president, chair or secretary of the board of directors~~)) superintendent of the district within ten days after receiving such notice, shall be granted opportunity for ((hearing pursuant to RCW 28A.405.310 to determine whether there is sufficient cause or causes for nonrenewal of contract: PROVIDED, That any employee receiving notice of nonrenewal of contract due to an enrollment decline or loss of revenue may, in his or her request for a hearing, stipulate that initiation of the arrangements for a hearing officer as provided for by RCW 28A.405.310(4) shall occur within ten days following July 15 rather than the day that the employee submits the request for a hearing. If any such notification or opportunity for hearing is not timely given, the employee entitled thereto shall be conclusively presumed to have been reemployed by the district for the next ensuing term upon contractual terms identical with those which would have prevailed if his or her employment had actually been renewed by the board of directors for such ensuing term)) an informal meeting with the superintendent for the purpose of requesting that the superintendent reconsider his or her decision. Such meeting shall be held no later than ten days following receipt of such request, and the employee shall be given written notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting at least three days before the meeting. At such meeting the employee shall be given the opportunity to refute any facts on which the superintendent's determination was based and to make any argument in support of his or her request for reconsideration.

Within ten days following the meeting with the employee, the superintendent shall either reinstate the employee or submit to the school district board of directors for consideration at its next regular meeting a written report recommending that the employment contract of the employee be nonrenewed and stating the reason or reasons therefor. A copy of such report shall be delivered to the employee at least three days before the scheduled meeting of the board of directors. In taking action on the recommendation of the superintendent, the board of directors shall consider any written communication which the employee may file with the secretary of the board at any time before that meeting. The board of directors shall notify the employee of its final decision within ten days following the meeting at which the superintendent's recommendation was considered. The decision of the board of directors to nonrenew the contract of an employee shall be final and not subject to appeal. This section provides the exclusive means for nonrenewing the employment contract of an employee and no other provision of law applies to the nonrenewal, including, without limitation, RCW 28A.645.010.

This section shall not be applicable to "provisional employees" as so designated in RCW 28A.405.220; transfer to a subordinate certificated position as that procedure is set forth in RCW 28A.405.230 shall not be construed as a nonrenewal of contract for the purposes of this section.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.400.300 and 1990 c 33 s 382 are each amended to read as follows:

Every board of directors, unless otherwise specially provided by law, shall:

(1)(a) Employ for ((~~not more than one~~)) three years, and for sufficient cause discharge, all certificated ((~~and noncertificated~~)) employees, other than provisional certificated employees as defined in RCW 28A.405.220 and administrative certificated employees as defined in RCW 28A.405.230;

(b) Employ for not more than one year, and for sufficient cause discharge, all provisional certificated employees as defined in RCW 28A.405.220;

(c) Employ for not more than three years, and for sufficient cause discharge, all certificated administrative employees as defined in RCW 28A.405.230; and

(d) Employ for not more than one year, and for sufficient cause discharge, all noncertificated employees;

(2) Adopt written policies granting leaves to persons under contracts of employment with the school district(s) in positions requiring either certification or noncertification qualifications, including but not limited to leaves for attendance at official or private institutes and conferences and sabbatical leaves for employees in positions requiring certification qualification, and leaves for illness, injury, bereavement and, emergencies for both certificated and noncertificated employees, and with such compensation as the board of directors prescribe: PROVIDED, That the board of directors shall adopt written policies granting to such persons annual leave with compensation for illness, injury and emergencies as follows:

(a) For such persons under contract with the school district for a full year, at least ten days;

(b) For such persons under contract with the school district as part time employees, at least that portion of ten days as the total number of days contracted for bears to one hundred eighty days;

(c) For certificated and noncertificated employees, annual leave with compensation for illness, injury, and emergencies shall be granted and accrue at a rate not to exceed twelve days per year; provisions of any contract in force on June 12, 1980, which conflict with requirements of this subsection shall continue in effect until contract expiration; after expiration, any new contract executed between the parties shall be consistent with this subsection;

(d) Compensation for leave for illness or injury actually taken shall be the same as the compensation such person would have received had such person not taken the leave provided in this proviso;

(e) Leave provided in this proviso not taken shall accumulate from year to year up to a maximum of one hundred eighty days for the purposes of RCW 28A.400.210 and 28A.400.220, and for leave purposes up to a maximum of the number of contract days agreed to in a given contract, but not greater than one year. Such accumulated time may be taken at any time during the school year or up to twelve days per year may be used for the purpose of payments for unused sick leave.

(f) Sick leave heretofore accumulated under section 1, chapter 195, Laws of 1959 (former RCW 28.58.430) and sick leave accumulated under administrative practice of school districts prior to the effective date of section 1, chapter 195, Laws of 1959 (former RCW 28.58.430) is hereby declared valid, and shall be added to leave for illness or injury accumulated under this proviso;

(g) Any leave for injury or illness accumulated up to a maximum of forty-five days shall be creditable as service rendered for the purpose of determining the time at which an employee is eligible to retire, if such leave is taken it may not be compensated under the provisions of RCW 28A.400.210 and 28A.310.490;

(h) Accumulated leave under this proviso shall be transferred to and from one district to another, the office of superintendent of public instruction and offices of educational service district superintendents and boards, to and from such districts and such offices;

(i) Leave accumulated by a person in a district prior to leaving said district may, under rules and regulations of the board, be granted to such person when the person returns to the employment of the district.

When any certificated or classified employee leaves one school district within the state and commences employment with another school district within the state, the employee shall retain the same seniority, leave benefits and other benefits that the employee had in his or her previous position: PROVIDED, That classified employees who transfer between districts after July 28, 1985, shall not retain any seniority rights other than longevity when leaving one school district and beginning employment with another. If the school district to which the person transfers has a different system for computing seniority, leave benefits, and other benefits, then the employee shall be granted the same seniority, leave benefits and other benefits as a person in that district who has similar occupational status and total years of service.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.405.240 and 1990 c 33 s 393 are each amended to read as follows:

No certificated employee shall be required to perform duties not described in the contract unless a new or supplemental contract is made for a term not to exceed one year, except that in an unexpected emergency the board of directors or school district administration may require the employee to perform other reasonable duties on a temporary basis.

No supplemental contract shall be subject to the continuing contract provisions of this title.

Sec. 4. RCW 28A.400.010 and 1990 c 33 s 376 are each amended to read as follows:

In all districts the board of directors shall elect a superintendent who shall have such qualification as the local school board alone shall determine. The superintendent shall have supervision over the several departments of the schools thereof and carry out such other powers and duties as prescribed by law. ((~~Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.400.300(1),~~)) The board may contract with such superintendent for a term not to exceed three years when deemed in the best interest of the district. The right to renew a contract of employment with any school superintendent shall rest solely with the discretion of the school board employing such school superintendent. Regarding such renewal of contracts of school superintendents the provisions of RCW 28A.405.210, 28A.405.240, and 28A.645.010 shall be inapplicable.

Sec. 5. RCW 28A.405.220 and 1990 c 33 s 391 are each amended to read as follows:

Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 28A.405.210, every person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract as provided in this section during the first three years of employment by such district, unless the employee has previously completed at least three years of certificated employment in another school district in this state, in which case the employee shall be subject to nonrenewal of employment contract under this section during the first year of employment with the new district. Employees as defined in this section shall hereinafter be referred to as "provisional employees".

In the event the superintendent of the school district determines that the employment contract of any provisional employee should not be renewed by the district for the next ensuing term such provisional employee shall be notified thereof in writing on or before May 15th preceding the commencement of such school term, which notification shall state the reason or reasons for such determination. Such notice shall be served upon the provisional employee personally, or by certified or registered mail, or by leaving a copy of the notice at the place of his or her usual abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then resident therein. The determination of the superintendent shall be subject to the evaluation requirements of RCW 28A.405.100.

Every such provisional employee so notified, at his or her request made in writing and filed with the superintendent of the district within ten days after receiving such notice, shall be given the opportunity to meet informally with the superintendent for the purpose of requesting the superintendent to reconsider his or her decision. Such meeting shall be held no later than ten days following the receipt of such request, and the provisional employee shall be given written notice of the date, time and place of meeting at least three days prior thereto. At such meeting the provisional employee shall be given the opportunity to refute any facts upon which the superintendent's determination was based and to make any argument in support of his or her request for reconsideration.

Within ten days following the meeting with the provisional employee, the superintendent shall either reinstate the provisional employee or shall submit to the school district board of directors for consideration at its next regular meeting a written report recommending that the employment contract of the provisional employee be nonrenewed and stating the reason or reasons therefor. A copy of such report shall be delivered to the provisional employee at least three days prior to the scheduled meeting of the board of directors. In taking action upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the board of directors shall consider any written communication which the provisional employee may file with the secretary of the board at any time prior to that meeting.

The board of directors shall notify the provisional employee in writing of its final decision within ten days following the meeting at which the superintendent's recommendation was considered. The decision of the board of directors to nonrenew the contract of a provisional employee shall be final and not subject to appeal.

This section applies to any person employed by a school district in a teaching or other nonsupervisory certificated position after June 25, 1976. This section provides the exclusive means for nonrenewing the employment contract of a provisional employee and no other provision of law shall be applicable thereto, including, without limitation, RCW 28A.405.210 and chapter 28A.645 RCW.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.405.230 and 1990 c 33 s 392 are each amended to read as follows:

Any certificated employee of a school district employed as an assistant superintendent, director, principal, assistant principal, coordinator, or in any other supervisory or administrative position, hereinafter in this section referred to as "administrator", shall be subject to transfer, at the expiration of the term of his or her employment contract, to any subordinate certificated position within the school district. "Subordinate certificated position" as used in this section, shall mean any administrative or nonadministrative certificated position for which the annual compensation is less than the position currently held by the administrator.

Every superintendent determining that the best interests of the school district would be served by transferring any administrator to a subordinate certificated position shall notify that administrator in writing on or before May 15th preceding the commencement of such school term of that determination, which notification shall state the reason or reasons for the transfer, and shall identify the subordinate certificated position to which the administrator will be transferred. Such notice shall be served upon the administrator personally, or by certified or registered mail, or by leaving a copy of the notice at the place of his or her usual abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then resident therein.

Every such administrator so notified, at his or her request made in writing and filed with the president or chair, or secretary of the board of directors of the district within ten days after receiving such notice, shall be given the opportunity to meet informally with the board of directors in an executive session thereof for the purpose of requesting the board to reconsider the decision of the superintendent. Such board, upon receipt of such request, shall schedule the meeting for no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board, and shall notify the administrator in writing of the date, time and place of the meeting at least three days prior thereto. At such meeting the administrator shall be given the opportunity to refute any facts upon which the determination was based and to make any argument in support of his or her request for reconsideration. The administrator and the board may invite their respective legal counsel to be present and to participate at the meeting. The board shall notify the administrator in writing of its final decision within ten days following its meeting with the administrator. No appeal to the courts shall lie from the final decision of the board of directors to transfer an administrator to a subordinate certificated position((: PROVIDED, That in the case of principals such transfer shall be made at the expiration of the contract year and only during the first three consecutive school years of employment as a principal by a school district; except that if any such principal has been previously employed as a principal by another school district in the state of Washington for three or more consecutive school years the provisions of this section shall apply only to the first full school year of such employment)).

This section applies to any person employed as an administrator by a school district on June 25, 1976 and to all persons so employed at any time thereafter. This section provides the exclusive means for transferring an administrator to a subordinate certificated position at the expiration of the term of his or her employment contract.

Sec. 7. RCW 28A.405.100 and 1990 c 33 s 386 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall establish and may amend from time to time minimum criteria for the evaluation of the professional performance capabilities and development of certificated classroom teachers and certificated support personnel. For classroom teachers the criteria shall be developed in the following categories: Instructional skill; classroom management, professional preparation and scholarship; effort toward improvement when needed; the handling of student discipline and attendant problems; and interest in teaching pupils and knowledge of subject matter.

Every board of directors shall, in accordance with procedure provided in RCW 41.59.010 through 41.59.170, 41.59.910 and 41.59.920, establish evaluative criteria and procedures for all certificated classroom teachers and certificated support personnel. The evaluative criteria must contain as a minimum the criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to this section and must be prepared within six months following adoption of the superintendent of public instruction's minimum criteria. The district must certify to the superintendent of public instruction that evaluative criteria have been so prepared by the district.

Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, it shall be the responsibility of a principal or his or her designee to evaluate all certificated personnel in his or her school. During each school year all classroom teachers and certificated support personnel, hereinafter referred to as "employees" in this section, shall be observed for the purposes of evaluation at least twice in the performance of their assigned duties. Total observation time for each employee for each school year shall be not less than sixty minutes. Following each observation, or series of observations, the principal or other evaluator shall promptly document the results of the evaluation in writing, and shall provide the employee with a copy thereof within three days after such report is prepared. New employees shall be observed at least once for a total observation time of thirty minutes during the first ninety calendar days of their employment period.

Every employee whose work is judged unsatisfactory based on district evaluation criteria shall be notified in writing of stated specific areas of deficiencies along with a suggested specific and reasonable program for improvement ((~~on or before February 1st~~)) by January 20th of each year. A probationary period of not less than sixty days shall be established beginning ((~~on or before February 1st~~)) by January 20th and ending no later than May 1st. The purpose of the probationary period is to give the employee opportunity to demonstrate improvements in his or her areas of deficiency. The establishment of the probationary period and the giving of the notice to the employee of deficiency shall be by the school district superintendent and need not be submitted to the board of directors for approval. During the probationary period the evaluator shall meet with the employee at least twice monthly to supervise and make a written evaluation of the progress, if any, made by the employee. The evaluator may authorize one additional certificated employee to evaluate the probationer and to aid the employee in improving his or her areas of deficiency; such additional certificated employee shall be immune from any civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed with regard to the good faith performance of such evaluation. The probationer may be removed from probation if he or she has demonstrated improvement to the satisfaction of the principal or the principal's designee in those areas specifically detailed in his or her initial notice of deficiency and subsequently detailed in his or her improvement program. Lack of necessary improvement shall be specifically documented in writing with notification to the probationer and shall constitute grounds for a finding of probable cause under RCW 28A.405.300 or reason for nonrenewal under RCW 28A.405.210.

The establishment of a probationary period shall not be deemed to adversely affect the contract status of an employee within the meaning of RCW 28A.405.300.

(2) Every board of directors shall establish evaluative criteria and procedures for all superintendents, principals, and other administrators. It shall be the responsibility of the district superintendent or his or her designee to evaluate all administrators. Such evaluation shall be based on the administrative position job description. Such criteria, when applicable, shall include at least the following categories: Knowledge of, experience in, and training in recognizing good professional performance, capabilities and development; school administration and management; school finance; professional preparation and scholarship; effort toward improvement when needed; interest in pupils, employees, patrons and subjects taught in school; leadership; and ability and performance of evaluation of school personnel.

(3) Each certificated employee shall have the opportunity for confidential conferences with his or her immediate supervisor on no less than two occasions in each school year. Such confidential conference shall have as its sole purpose the aiding of the administrator in his or her professional performance.

(4) The failure of any evaluator to evaluate, or supervise, or cause the evaluation or supervision of certificated employees or administrators in accordance with this section, as now or hereafter amended, when it is his or her specific assigned or delegated responsibility to do so, shall be sufficient ((~~cause~~)) reason for the nonrenewal of any such evaluator's contract under RCW 28A.405.210, or cause for the discharge of such evaluator under RCW 28A.405.300.

(5) After an employee has four years of satisfactory evaluations under subsection (1) of this section, a school district may use a short form of evaluation. The short form of evaluation shall include either a thirty minute observation during the school year with a written summary or a final annual written evaluation based on the criteria in subsection (1) of this section and based on at least two observation periods during the school year totaling at least sixty minutes without a written summary of such observations being prepared. However, the evaluation process set forth in subsection (1) of this section shall be followed at least once every three years and an employee or evaluator may request that the evaluation process set forth in subsection (1) of this section be conducted in any given school year. The short form evaluation process may not be used as a basis for determining that an employee's work is unsatisfactory under subsection (1) of this section ((~~nor as probable cause for the nonrenewal of an employee's contract under RCW 28A.405.210~~)).

Sec. 8. RCW 28A.405.310 and 1990 c 33 s 396 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any employee receiving a notice of probable cause for discharge or adverse effect in contract status pursuant to RCW 28A.405.300, ((~~or any employee, with the exception of provisional employees as defined in RCW 28A.405.220, receiving a notice of probable cause for nonrenewal of contract pursuant to RCW 28A.405.210,~~)) shall be granted the opportunity for a hearing pursuant to this section.

(2) In any request for a hearing pursuant to RCW 28A.405.300 ((~~or 28A.405.210~~)), the employee may request either an open or closed hearing. The hearing shall be open or closed as requested by the employee, but if the employee fails to make such a request, the hearing officer may determine whether the hearing shall be open or closed.

(3) The employee may engage counsel who shall be entitled to represent the employee at the prehearing conference held pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and at all subsequent proceedings pursuant to this section. At the hearing provided for by this section, the employee may produce such witnesses as he or she may desire.

(4) In the event that an employee requests a hearing pursuant to RCW 28A.405.300 ((~~or 28A.405.210~~)), a hearing officer shall be appointed in the following manner: Within fifteen days following the receipt of any such request the board of directors of the district or its designee and the employee or employee's designee shall each appoint one nominee. The two nominees shall jointly appoint a hearing officer who shall be a member in good standing of the Washington state bar association or a person adhering to the arbitration standards established by the public employment relations commission and listed on its current roster of arbitrators. Should said nominees fail to agree as to who should be appointed as the hearing officer, either the board of directors or the employee, upon appropriate notice to the other party, may apply to the presiding judge of the superior court for the county in which the district is located for the appointment of such hearing officer, whereupon such presiding judge shall have the duty to appoint a hearing officer who shall, in the judgment of such presiding judge, be qualified to fairly and impartially discharge his or her duties. Nothing herein shall preclude the board of directors and the employee from stipulating as to the identity of the hearing officer in which event the foregoing procedures for the selection of the hearing officer shall be inapplicable. The district shall pay all fees and expenses of any hearing officer selected pursuant to this subsection.

(5) Within five days following the selection of a hearing officer pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the hearing officer shall schedule a prehearing conference to be held within such five day period, unless the board of directors and employee agree on another date convenient with the hearing officer. The employee shall be given written notice of the date, time, and place of such prehearing conference at least three days prior to the date established for such conference.

(6) The hearing officer shall preside at any prehearing conference scheduled pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and in connection therewith shall:

(a) Issue such subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum as either party may request at that time or thereafter; and

(b) Authorize the taking of prehearing depositions at the request of either party at that time or thereafter; and

(c) Provide for such additional methods of discovery as may be authorized by the civil rules applicable in the superior courts of the state of Washington; and

(d) Establish the date for the commencement of the hearing, to be within ten days following the date of the prehearing conference, unless the employee requests a continuance, in which event the hearing officer shall give due consideration to such request.

(7) The hearing officer shall preside at any hearing and in connection therewith shall:

(a) Make rulings as to the admissibility of evidence pursuant to the rules of evidence applicable in the superior court of the state of Washington.

(b) Make other appropriate rulings of law and procedure.

(c) Within ten days following the conclusion of the hearing transmit in writing to the board and to the employee, findings of fact and conclusions of law and final decision. If the final decision is in favor of the employee, the employee shall be restored to his or her employment position and shall be awarded reasonable attorneys' fees.

(8) Any final decision by the hearing officer ((~~to nonrenew the employment contract of the employee, or~~)) to discharge the employee, or to take other action adverse to the employee's contract status, as the case may be, shall be based solely upon the cause or causes specified in the notice of probable cause to the employee and shall be established by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing to be sufficient cause or causes for such action.

(9) All subpoenas and prehearing discovery orders shall be enforceable by and subject to the contempt and other equity powers of the superior court of the county in which the school district is located upon petition of any aggrieved party.

(10) A complete record shall be made of the hearing and all orders and rulings of the hearing officer and school board.

Sec. 9. RCW 28A.405.320 and 1990 c 33 s 397 are each amended to read as follows:

Any teacher, principal, supervisor, superintendent, or other certificated employee, desiring to appeal from any action or failure to act upon the part of a school board relating to the discharge or other action adversely affecting his or her contract status, (( ~~or failure to renew that employee's contract for the next ensuing term,~~)) within thirty days after his or her receipt of such decision or order, may serve upon the chair of the school board and file with the clerk of the superior court in the county in which the school district is located a notice of appeal which shall set forth also in a clear and concise manner the errors complained of.

Sec. 10. RCW 28A.405.350 and 1990 c 33 s 399 are each amended to read as follows:

If the court enters judgment for the employee, and if the court finds that the probable cause determination was made in bad faith or upon insufficient legal grounds, the court in its discretion may award to the employee a reasonable attorneys' fee for the preparation and trial of ((~~his or her~~)) the appeal, together with ((~~his or her~~)) taxable costs in the superior court. If the court enters judgment for the employee, in addition to ordering the school board to reinstate ((~~or issue a new contract to~~)) the employee, the court may award damages for loss of compensation incurred by the employee by reason of the action of the school district.

Sec. 11. RCW 28A.405.380 and 1990 c 33 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:

In the event that an employee((~~, with the exception of a provisional employee as defined in RCW 28A.405.220,~~)) receives a notice of probable cause pursuant to RCW 28A.405.300 ((~~or 28A.405.210~~)) stating that by reason of a lack of sufficient funds, an enrollment decline, or loss of levy election the employment ((~~contract~~)) of such employee should ((~~not~~)) be ((~~renewed~~)) terminated for the next ensuing school term or that the same should be adversely affected, the employee may appeal any said probable cause determination directly to the superior court of the county in which the school district is located. Such appeal shall be perfected by serving upon the secretary of the school board and filing with the clerk of the superior court a notice of appeal within ten days after receiving the probable cause notice. The notice of appeal shall set forth in a clear and concise manner the action appealed from. The superior court shall determine whether or not there was sufficient cause for the action as specified in the probable cause notice, which cause must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, and shall base its determination solely upon the cause or causes stated in the notice of the employee. The appeal provided in this section shall be tried as an ordinary civil action: PROVIDED, That the board of directors' determination of priorities for the expenditure of funds shall be subject to superior court review pursuant to the standards set forth in RCW 28A.405.340: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the provisions of RCW 28A.405.350 and 28A.405.360 shall be applicable thereto.

Sec. 12. RCW 28A.645.010 and 1990 c 33 s 544 are each amended to read as follows:

Any person, or persons, either severally or collectively, aggrieved by any decision or order of any school official or board, within thirty days after the rendition of such decision or order, or of the failure to act upon the same when properly presented, may appeal the same to the superior court of the county in which the school district or part thereof is situated, by filing with the secretary of the school board if the appeal is from board action or failure to act, otherwise with the proper school official, and filing with the clerk of the superior court, a notice of appeal which shall set forth in a clear and concise manner the errors complained of.

Appeals by teachers, principals, supervisors, superintendents, or other certificated employees from the actions of school boards with respect to discharge or other action adversely affecting their contract status((~~, or failure to renew their contracts for the next ensuing term~~)) shall be governed by the appeal provisions of chapter((~~s 28A.400 and~~)) 28A.405 RCW ((~~therefor and in all other cases shall be governed by chapter 28A.645 RCW~~)).